Brian Hooper

Bio:

I've been singing in folk clubs and suchlike since the 1960s, and singing mostly my own compositions since 2006 or thereabouts. I've run folk clubs and festivals, played in pubs, clubs, concerts, festivals and community gatherings, been featured on local radio (and once on national radio), had my own column in 'Folk On Tap' magazine for many years, and literally wrote the book on MCing folk clubs - it's called "So You Want To Be A Folk Club MC?". I've been the resident MC at the Foc's'le Folk Club in Southampton since the late 1970s, with the occasional break in service............. I've also been singing with "After The Rain" at St James Road Methodist Church in Southampton since the mid-90s........... Recordings - apart from a few bit-parts, my first album was "Hooperman In The Can" in 2002. Jeff Henry and I released "Southampton In Song" on the Forest Tracks label in 2005, and then in 2006 came an album of self-penned songs, "A Year In Providence". I released TWO albums in 2009, the first being "He Set Me Free", a CD of my Christian songs. I gave away the first 200, and got another batch printed for sale at a nominal £2.50. The second was "May Contain Nuts", on the Forest Tracks label again, comprising 7 of my songs and 6 of Jeff Henry's.............. I'm now working on a show about the Titanic, told from a Southampton point of view, with fellow songwriters Jeff Henry and Barry Wake and some excellent supporting musicians. It premieres on 10 April, at St Michael's Church, one of the oldest buildings in the city........... The songs you can hear here on MySpace include something explicitly Christian, something with an environmental message and something that isn't either of those.

Member Since:

January 08, 2009

Influences:

My songwriting influences range from Pete Seeger to Ray Davies, from the Beatles to Tom Lehrer, with a strong steer from Tom Paxton and to a lesser extent Bob Dylan. Harvey Andrews is in there too, as are some of the writers of the New Testament. Musically, I've been influenced by hundreds of singer/guitarists, rock bands, music-hall acts and friends, and I try not to sound like anyone in particular.

Sounds Like:

As a solo performer I sound like some old bloke with a guitar, and occasionally without one. I try to sound like Brian Hooper rather than anyone else. Obviously as an instrumentalist I sound like Martin Simpson, Doc Watson, Simon Mayor or Jack Bruce, depending what instrument I happen to be playing at the time. Dream on.

Record Label:

Forest Tracks and Hooperman Records